Compressing dehydrated foods



July 27, 1948. ADAMS 2,445,752

COMPESSING DEHYDRATED FOODS Filed April 7, 1944 j w M Patented July 27,1948 v 2,445,752 COMPRESSIN G DEHYDRATED FOODS Nicholas M. Adams,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wilson & Company, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Application April 7, 1944, Serial No. 529,931

.9 Claims. (Cl. 99-111) This'invention relates to a method ofcompressing dehydrated foods and to the package so produced.

. Dehydrated food products have been produced for many years but one ofthe disadvantages thereof. has been the bulk of the material inreference to its weight. Many of these products will compress but whenefforts are made to package the goods a large loss ensues because thecompressed products have a property of expanding slowly aftercompression, as a result of which they frequently rupture or distort thecontainers.

In accordance with the present invention, a ver simple method ofovercoming this breakage and distortion is provided, by compressing theproduct within a thin rigid sleeve whose outer dimension and shape isthat of the ultimate container, and then extruding the material from thesleeve into the container after compression. The thickness of the sleeveis selected with reference to the product and to the container so thatthe expansion of the material tightly fills the con-' tainer, but doesnot distort or rupture.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation partly in section of a suitable apparatus for carryingout the method; Figure 2 is a front elevation likewise partially insection; Figure 3 is a sectional plan 'view taken along the line 3-8 inFigure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the sleeve,container and compressed material before withdrawal of the sleeve.

The apparatus comprises a conventional hydraulic press I operated by thearm II and provided with a plunger l2. .Dehydrated material l3 to becompressed is inserted within the filling tube or sleeve H to thedesired level. The sleeve is provided with a flared neck It below whichis a supporting collar l6 and a handle l1. Each end of the tube is ofcourse open. The inner diameter of the sleeve corresponds to the outerdi-v ameter of the plunger l2, and the outer diameter' of the sleeve issuch as to fit closely within the container It. The container is hereillustrated as circular in cross-section but the invention is notlimited to any particular cross-section of container. Usually thecontainer is of metal, but with the present invention it may be madefrom non-ductile material as well. The container should, however, beuniform in cross-section from bottom to top. After the sleeve has beenfilled to the desired level (during which operation it may be placedupon a suitable table to close the bottom), it is carried by the handleI! and placed within the bracket which supports the collar ment of theplungerwill'vary with difierent types of materials. In some cases it maybe necessary to heat or cool the material in order to produce propercompressive conditions, but these conditions are not part of the presentinvention.

After the material has been compressed within the sleeve and container,the sleeve is lifted from the bracket 20 and the pivoted bracket 22.swung into position below the plunger, and the sleeve then inserted init, as shown by the dotted line in Figure l. The plunger is againactuated and forces the compressed material from the sleeve into thecontainer. a

It will be observed that by this method the compressed material forms ablock, smaller on each side by the thickness of the sleeve wall than thecontainer. The space remaining, which is filled by air, is evacuatedunder suitable evacuating equipment, and the container hermeticallysealed in suitable fashion. The compressed material then slowly expandsuntil it comfortably fills the container without rupturing it ordistorting it.

A suitable amount of space is provided in a circular cylindricalcontainer 2% inches in intcrnaldiameter at the seam by employing asleeve having that external diameter and an internal diameter of 2%inches. With these dimensions, such products as meat, rice, hash andpotatoes may be suitably compressed under normal pressures and will thenexert no substantial pressure against the tin or container.

The products herein referred to are dehydrated sufliciently so that theywill normally keep in the atmosphere. Usually this means a moisturecontent below 10%, usually 6-7%.

The operations illustrated herein are manual but may obviously becarriedout entirely by automatic means through the use of suitablemachinery.

The term cylinder is not limited to a circular cylinder.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is:

1. The method of packaging, compressed dehydrated food material having asubstantial tendency to expand slowly to a limited degree aftercompression, which comprises first compressing the material within acylindrical sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightlyless than the inner diameter of a predetermined container havingsubstantially rigid walls, the amount of compression being of the orderof 1500 lbs. per square inch. then extruding the material from thesleeve after the compressing in a block into the predeterminedcontainer, and sealing the same.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the container is placedunder high vacuum immediately prior to sealing.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the compressed materialis largely dehydrated meat.

4. The method asset forth in claim 1, in which the compressed materialis largely dehydrated potatoes.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the compressed materialis largely dehydrated rice.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the bottom of the sleeveis closed by the con tainer during the compression operation.

- 7. The method of packaging compressed dehydrated food material havinga substantial tendency to expand slowly to a limited degree aftercompression, which comprises first compressing the material within acylindrical sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightlyless than the inner diameter of a predetermined container havingsubstantially rigid walls, the amount of compression being such assubstantially to decrease the volume of the material and 40 1,077,810

. into the predetermined container, and sealing the same.

8. The method of packaging compressed dehydrated food material having asubstantial pressing the material within a sleeve having a thin wall andan outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of apredetermined container having substantially rigid walls, the amount ofcompression being such as substantially to decrease the volume of thematerial and to impart thereto a substantial and powerful tendencyslowly to expand after release of the pressure, then extruding thematerial from the sleeve after the compressing in a block, introducingthe block into the predetermined container, and sealing the same.

9. The method of packaging dehydrated meat products in a containerhaving substantially rigid walls which comprises first compressing themeat product to substantially its minimum volume within a cylindricalsleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightly less than theinner diameter of the container, then extruding the compressed materialfrom the sleeve in a block into the container, substantially removingair from the container, and sealing the same.

NICHOLAS M. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Roberts Apr. 2, 1872 Cussen' June 25,1878 Thomsen July 27, 1897 Wiley Apr. 20, 1901 Bartholomew Apr. 24, 1906Craggs Nov. 4, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1869Great Britain 1881 Number Number

